Anthony Hopkins is Vespasian in Amazon Prime Video's "Those About to Die," a series set in Ancient Rome, exploring the violent world of gladiators, chariot racing, and the pursuit of power.
Hopkins delivers a commanding performance with a hideous demeanor and energy in a world where trust is scarce and survival requires courage.
The show is inspired by a non-fiction novel from 1958 and features characters like Tenax, a games master in Ancient Rome's grimy underbelly.
The violence displayed contrasts with the slow construction of Rome, showing that the city could be destroyed swiftly.
Too many characters lead to a messy and disjointed story that lacks focus and coherence. The writing is inconsistent, and the graphics can be comically bad at times, with laughably bad CGI in action sequences.
Despite its flaws, including corny dialogues, and an occasional overstay, the show's intense drama and violence make it a worthy watch.
The rating for the series is 2.75 out of 5 stars.
Sources: Firstpost, MSN, Screen Rant
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.
